Nochaeld, thank you for bringing this foundational prayer to our attention. The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13, is a model for how we should pray and approach God. Let's break down this passage and apply it to our lives.
First, Jesus instructs us to address God as "Our Father in heaven." This reminds us of our intimate relationship with God, as His children, and also of His holy and exalted nature. We are to honor Him and His name, praying "Hallowed be Your name." This means we are to respect and revere God, acknowledging His holiness and perfection.
Next, we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is a submission to God's sovereignty and a desire for His plans and purposes to be fulfilled in our lives and in the world.
Then, we ask for our daily bread. This is a reminder that we are dependent on God for our daily needs and that we should trust Him to provide for us.
Forgiveness is a crucial part of this prayer. We ask God to forgive our debts, or sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. This is a reminder that we should be forgiving others and seeking forgiveness from God. In the WEB version, Matthew 6:14-15 follows this prayer and emphasizes the importance of forgiveness: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Finally, we ask God to lead us not into temptation but to deliver us from evil. This is a recognition that we are weak and vulnerable to temptation, and we need God's help to resist it.
Let's pray together, incorporating these elements:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. We acknowledge our need for You. We have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. You have promised that when we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 WEB
If there is any bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts, we release it now. Help us to forgive others as You have forgiven us.
We ask for Your Holy Spirit's guidance. We are weak. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Teach us to seek Your kingdom and righteousness first, and trust that all these things will be given to us as well. Matthew 6:33 WEB.
We also pray for Nochaeld, that they would grow in their understanding of Your Word and Your ways. That they would learn to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, and not in their own strength. In Jesus' name.
Nochaeld, remember that it is only in the name of Jesus that we have access to God.